Astellas Pharma

In pioneering fields such as #CellandGeneTherapy, cross-industry collaboration and communication are essential for accelerating the delivery of potential transformative medicines to patients. At the upcoming Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa, October 7-9, Astellas speakers will be setting out our vision in cell and gene therapy, exploring how to navigate the evolving gene therapy landscape in Asia, and sharing updates on our work in diseases facing significant unmet medical needs, such as Friedreich ataxia (#FA). Our partnering teams will also be onsite, looking for like-minded innovators committed to bringing ground-breaking therapies to patients, faster. Get in touch if you’re attending: https://lnkd.in/gapkuMAZ #ScienceFirstForPatients #ChangingTomorrow #CGMesa24

Over the past decade, Astellas has transformed from an #oncology newcomer to a recognized leader, with three best-in-class cancer therapies prescribed to over one million patients across 70 countries to date. This remarkable journey has been fueled by relentless innovation and a commitment to addressing high unmet needs in #CancerTreatment. In our latest article on Our Stories, Chief Medical Officer Tadaaki Taniguchi shares his insights on how Astellas is advancing an early-stage pipeline of novel modalities, including immuno-oncology and targeted protein degradation. These cutting-edge approaches target difficult-to-treat cancers and can potentially have transformative impact on the lives of those battling the disease. Read the full story on our corporate website:  https://lnkd.in/gXZJuwTv

We're excited to announce that Nick Eshkenazi, our Chief Digital & Transformation Officer (CDTO), has been named CDTO of the Year in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing by C-Suite Insider. This recognition reflects Nick's leadership in advancing Astellas' digital and transformation agenda, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration across the organization. Thank you to C-Suite Insider for this incredible recognition. We are proud to have Nick leading the charge in shaping the future of digital transformation at Astellas. Read more about the award:  https://lnkd.in/gYk2MJMy #DigitalTransformation #innovation #leadership

During a recent trip to Europe, our CEO, Naoki Okamura and CCO, Claus Zieler, had the privilege of visiting two world-renowned research centers in Paris: the Institut de la Vision and Gustave Roussy. Both institutions are at the forefront of medical innovation and exemplify the power of collaboration in advancing healthcare beyond national boundaries. At the Institut de la Vision, senior leaders from Astellas were given an overview of their pioneering research work in gene therapy, artificial vision, and cell therapy. These cutting-edge approaches are bringing new hope to patients who are waiting with retinal degeneration and optic neuropathy. The groundbreaking artificial vision systems and stem cell therapies are transforming what is possible in restoring sight. Astellas colleagues were impressed by the collaborative spirit among researchers and healthcare professionals at the Institute that really fosters an environment that accelerates innovation to ensure these advancements can be delivered to more patients quickly. During the same trip, the team were also guests of Professor fabrice andre Head of Research, Fabrice Barlesi, CEO at Gustave Roussy, and Professor Eric Vivier President of Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC), renowned for its incredible advancements in oncology research. As a global leader in cancer care, their expertise in immunotherapy, personalized medicine, and precision oncology is unparalleled. Andrew Mortlock, Head of Early Development and Alan McDougall, Head of Medical Affairs in Europe were especially interested to learn about potential opportunities for joint research initiatives in developing next-generation immuno-oncology therapies. By leveraging the expertise of research and academic institutions is central to enhancing the Astellas oncology portfolio and accelerating the development of transformative treatments. With France recently celebrating a successful Olympic games—following previous hosts, Japan—the leaders enjoyed meeting our talented French team at the Astellas office to share their experiences. The French culture, with its emphasis on empathy and holistic care, aligns perfectly with the core Astellas value of focusing on patient needs. General Manager of France, Ghislaine Leleu and Regional President, Damien Bailly gave numerous examples of this commitment of putting patients first and it was evident in every discussion and initiative the team presented. During the panel discussion, the French team’s dedication to understanding and addressing patient needs was clearly evident, as many examples showed how their efforts to deliver innovative solutions make a meaningful difference to patients’ lives.

“I am very proud of you. I love the fact that every team functions as a team. Especially in the Brand Teams, the amount of collaboration, responsibility and accountability perfectly matches my definition of our agile ways of working.”    Naoki Okamura shared this with the team at the end of his visit to Astellas Pharma in Germany. The CEO was accompanied by Claus Zieler, Damien Bailly and Alan McDougall. The combined global and regional management team was able to get an appreciation of the cultural transformation taking shape in Germany, while German colleagues had the opportunity to learn more about our global strategy and spend quality time with senior leaders, face-to-face.    In addition to presentations and discussions, the German team hosted a town hall in a ‘talk show’ format, with the local management team partnering with their respective colleagues in a highly engaging way. Above all, the senior leaders dedicated significant time to individual and small group conversations with colleagues from the German affiliate on numerous occasions during the two day visit, such as over informal employee lunches.     Naoki Okamura and Claus Zieler also visited the Bavarian State Ministry of Health (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Gesundheit, Pflege und Prävention) together with Dr. Galin Michailov and Dr. Stefanie Schuster. During the visit, Claus Zieler emphasized that Astellas, as a research-based pharmaceutical company, needs reliable framework conditions, such as a supportive regulatory environment, stable funding for innovation and incentives for R&D. He added that Germany could do much more to increase its attractiveness compared with other countries.    Claus Zieler paid tribute to the dedication and passion of the German team at the end of the visit, telling colleagues: “I leave Germany deeply impressed by what you have accomplished, and I really like the energy that I saw during my visit, as well as the cross-functional ways of working and alignment to our common goal of bringing innovative products to patients. I would like to especially point out that the Brand Teams are very integrated teams in their mindset, ways of working and execution.”

This is the start of #UrologyWeek 2024! This year we are building on the work done by the Urge to Act coalition to help further raise awareness about #incontinence.    Throughout the week we will be sharing key facts about incontinence and continence care, highlighting its affect on not only patients, but European society as a whole. Join us and help spread awareness about this common and treatable condition!  

We recently celebrated the official Grand Opening of our Astellas Life Sciences Center (ALSC) and had the honor of welcoming a number of distinguished guests as we join this vital life science innovation hub:  - City of Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons - Yvonne Hao, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) - Dr. David Ting and Dr. Angela Shen MD, MBA from Mass General Brigham - Jeanne LeClair, Acting CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Our work at the new ALSC will strengthen our partnerships in the Greater Boston area – a critical success factor for continued growth at Astellas. It will also nurture ingenuity, creativity, and accelerate our goal of delivering innovative medicines to patients. In the words of one of our distinguished guests, “When one member of the Cambridge life sciences community wins, the entire community wins.” We are incredibly proud to be part of this vibrant life science ecosystem and look forward to what we will achieve together. Read more:  https://lnkd.in/gaeb5vXY

At Astellas, we’ve dedicated our strengths to finding new ways to treat and ultimately cure patients with cancer. As well as advancing our own pipeline of novel therapies, we’re always keen to share ideas and connect with the global innovation community.     If you’re attending #WMIF2024, Sept 23-25 in Boston, MA, we would love to see you. Our Chief Medical Officer, Tadaaki Taniguchi, will join a Fireside Chat on R&D innovation in oncology on Sept 25, and Astellas’ Head of Immuno-Oncology and Cell Therapy Development, Moitreyee Chatterjee-Kishore, Ph.D., MBA, will be part of panel discussion on the 24th exploring challenges and opportunities in the field.     With open exchange and collaboration, we will advance the oncology treatment field, faster!  Find out more:  https://lnkd.in/gE5mgqKx #ScienceFirstForPatients #ChangingTomorrow 

As #ESMO2024 comes to a close, our Head of Oncology Development, Ahsan Arozullah, has been reflecting on the importance of innovation in supporting the evolution of medicine and cancer treatment.       Watch Ahsan’s video and learn more about how we’re driving innovation and targeting difficult to treat or ‘undruggable’ cancers to provide treatment options for those who need it most.   #ScienceFirstForPatients #ChangingTomorrow  

Remarkable strides are being made in oncology, and death rates are steadily reducing. However, there is still more to be done to reduce the heavy burden of cancer for patients and their loved ones.  At Astellas, we recognize that collaboration with the oncology community is essential to drive improvements in cancer care and tackle barriers to treatment. Our team has been on the ground at #ESMO2024 in Barcelona this weekend, which has been a fantastic opportunity for us to meet with the leading minds in oncology to discuss progress in cancer care.  Claus Zieler, Chief Commercial Officer, reflects on our work to ease burdens for patients and healthcare systems in collaboration with the oncology community. Watch his video below to find out more.     #ScienceFirstForPatients #ChangingTomorrow